South Carolina Figure Skating Club named in sexual abuse case

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Two new lawsuits were filed in a abuse scandal involving former Olympian Mark Cockerell and Flight Fit N Fun in Irmo.

An additional victim was identified in Thursday’s lawsuits, and two mothers have joined the group suing the U.S. Figure Skating association, rink and Olympian.

The lawsuits detailed Cockerell’s alleged sexual misconduct and abuse of a 12-year-old student and claimed the USFS knew about his, “improper conduct and potential sexual relationships with minor athletes” for at least three decades.

The South Carolina Figure Skating Club was also named in the two new lawsuits filed in federal court. The lawsuits claim that SCFSC President Angi Grant knew about allegations of sexual abuse but declined to take action.

According to the new lawsuits, Cockerell emotionally abused and acted inappropriately with Jane Doe #4, who was under the age of 18 at all times interacting with Cockerell.

The lawsuits claimed all defendants were complicit in allowing the escalation, exploitation, harassment and abuse of Jane Doe #4 in this case.

“How anyone could look at decades of this behavior and think it’s okay is beyond me,” attorney Randall Hood said in a statement. “But this wasn’t just anyone. These were organizations charged with protecting our children from exactly this kind of predator. That’s irresponsible, it’s dangerous and it’s just the beginning.”

Cockerell represented the U.S. in the 1984 Winter Olympics as a member of the U.S. figure skating team.

On Feb. 2, Strom Law Firm in Columbia announced an initial lawsuit against Cockrell for allegedly engaging in sexual misconduct with two young women. Just a week later, on Feb. 9, the same law firm announced another lawsuit concerning a third victim.

The victims are represented by attorneys Randall Hood and Chad McGowan with McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, and civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers, Jessica Fickling, Alexandra Benevento, and Pete Strom with Strom Law Firm.

WIS News reached out to the South Carolina Figure Skating Club’s board of directors for comment and has not heard back. The newsroom is also waiting on comment from the U.S. Figure Skating association and the Irmo skating rink.

WIS has previously reached out to both Cockerell and his relatives for comment on the lawsuits. WIS News 10 spoke with one relative who refused to comment.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.